Visited the legendary La Mariana Sailing club on a recent trip to Honolulu. It's a little off the beaten path, which can be good or bad depending on your point of view.

The taxi drops us off at a gap in a chain-link fence in the middle of an industrial park. As we make our way inside we are quite happy to find a treasure trove of tiki and marine artifacts, including many carvings, blowfish lamps, rattan chairs, colored balls, etc. The collection was simply amazing (without being overwhelming).

Ever-present owner/operator 86-year-old Annette Nahinu was there to greet us. The lunchtime crowd was larger than we expected. The food was okay, and the drinks were decent. My impression was that it was more of a beer-and-shot place catering to regular clientele, and less of a toursit trap pouring out Lava Flow's and Mai Tai's.

That said, a single visit at lunchtime mid-week can't possibly do justice to this place. If in Honolulu, a side trip to this place is highly recommended -- before it's gone forever. Vic
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On 2004-06-21 13:03, vegasvic wrote:Visited the legendary La Mariana Sailing club on a recent trip to Honolulu.

It's a little off the beaten path, which can be good or bad depending on your point of view.

makes no difference; many great Hawaiian locales you gotta see is "off the beaten path" (whatever that is...)
...besides it is a well worn beaten path to la mar for many.
it's on a main road (sand island access ) just along da path from da airport to yer hotel. And with the awful beiruit road conditions the City and County and state like to keep our roads in, you need a maitai or three at about this point.

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The taxi drops us off at a gap in a chain-link fence in the middle of an industrial park. As we make our way inside we are quite happy to find a treasure trove of tiki and marine artifacts, including many carvings, blowfish lamps, rattan chairs, colored balls, etc. The collection was simply amazing (without being overwhelming).

Ever-present owner/operator 86-year-old Annette Nahinu was there to greet us. The lunchtime crowd was larger than we expected. The food was okay, and the drinks were decent. My impression was that it was more of a beer-and-shot place catering to regular clientele,

we locals drink da tropicals as often as da beer...

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and less of a toursit trap pouring out Lava Flow's and Mai Tai's.

thankfully la mar will NEVER trap tourists.

you want tourist trap, Tiki's is yer cuppatea.

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a single visit at lunchtime mid-week can't possibly do justice to this place.

to appreciate the ambiance of la Mar, go at bout 4. you see the place in sunlite and then later the sunset. It's situated on the keehi harbor and the view thru yer maitai glass of the indigenous tropical foliage, boat masts and the Hawaiian setting sun in the fiery reds, yellows, oranges... of the sky.. and the reflection on the water... how you say it; "does it justice."

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If in Honolulu, a side trip to this place is highly recommended -- before it's gone forever.

...or even a front trip to this place is highly recommended...

it will never be gone totally forever; just as the decor has filled in for years from the demise of other great polynesian eateries and bars, the artifacts will migrate to its next incarnation.

On 2004-06-21 13:03, vegasvic wrote:Visited the legendary La Mariana Sailing club on a recent trip to Honolulu. It's a little off the beaten path, which can be good or bad depending on your point of view.

On 2004-06-21 13:03, vegasvic wrote:Visited the legendary La Mariana Sailing club on a recent trip to Honolulu. It's a little off the beaten path, which can be good or bad depending on your point of view.

"to appreciate the ambiance of la Mar, go at bout 4. you see the place in sunlite and then later the sunset. It's situated on the keehi harbor and the view thru yer maitai glass of the indigenous tropical foliage, boat masts and the Hawaiian setting sun in the fiery reds, yellows, oranges... of the sky.. and the reflection on the water... how you say it; "does it justice."

Oh Lanikai,
You killin' me. I was there in November and had drinks with bruddah Gecko, his ohana and Dogbytes. It's magic when the sun sets and the cats from the Tahatian Lanai hit the piano... La Mariana is as it should be.
Aloha,

Oh Lanikai,
You killin' me. I was there in November and had drinks with bruddah Gecko, his ohana and Dogbytes. It's magic when the sun sets and the cats from the Tahatian Lanai hit the piano... La Mariana is as it should be.

all those cats for the most part have migrated lately to da pagoda. Ronny plays there only on Fridays now.
Ron Miyashiro, traditional Hawaiian and Broadway, 8-11 p.m., Pagoda Hotel, LaSalle Lounge.
Unfortunately, the new venue is modern decor and nowhere near the ambiance of La mar....
_________________malama ki'i kahiko

I was there last Feb. met Annette, the nicest lady. Fabulous place. I hope no one buys it and tears it down. By the way was that a blind piano player, playing music from the 30's and 40's. Or did I have too many Mai Tais. Anyone knows. I could swear he was blind.

Be careful, Tikiheads! The authenticity of La Mariana will be a bit of a shock for those used to Hollywood glitz. Sidle up to the wraparound bar and you may be sitting next to a real life Leeteg, gin-soaked and full of tall tales about big fish, pretty wahines and the South Pacific! This can be more 'invigorating' than expected. Locals abound here, fishermen, sailors and dock workers. For the old-timers and the lovers of authentic nostalgia this wonderful throw-back has an air of familiarity...I imagine any time traveler from the 40's would feel only truly at home in this place.There used to be a bonified 'sailing club' operating out of this establishment and there are a few of us that would love to see it revamped!(ps you can still buy t-shirts and ballcaps with the La Mariana logo on them, even if the gift shop is closed. Ask the bartender and they will usually open it for you). Hats off to Annette for keeping it alive and well for so many years! Well worth the time to travel out to and enjoy the totally-tiki clubhouse and an actual, factual, marine enviroment.
the tikitwo, andy n' lono!